KEY POINTS
- Eko Disco has begun distributing free prepaid meters to Band A customers under the Federal Government’s Meter Acquisition Fund.
- The 60-day exercise covers both replacement of obsolete meters and installation for unmetered premium-band users at no cost.
- The programme, monitored by NERC, aims to cut estimated billing, boost transparency and accelerate Nigeria’s shift to prepaid metering.
Eko Electricity Distribution Company has begun issuing free prepaid meters to its Band A customers, marking one of the most visible steps yet in a nationwide push to narrow Nigeria’s persistent metering deficit.
The company said the exercise, which covers both the replacement of old units and the installation of new ones, is being carried out under the Federal Government’s Meter Acquisition Fund, an initiative designed to accelerate prepaid migration and reduce disputes over estimated billing.
The programme is expected to run for the next sixty days across the utility’s franchise area. According to the firm, Band A customers who still rely on old or malfunctioning devices will have their meters replaced at no cost, while those without any metering will receive the new prepaid units free of charge.
Federal Metering Initiative Expands as Regulators Tighten Oversight
The Meter Acquisition Fund was launched under the Presidential Metering Initiative to supply meters at no cost to the highest-paying customer category. It is part of a broader attempt to improve transparency in electricity consumption, stabilise billing, and restore trust in the distribution network after years of disputes between consumers and utilities.
Industry officials say the absence of widespread metering has long fuelled revenue leakages and consumer dissatisfaction, particularly in Lagos and other high-demand urban corridors. By targeting Band A customers first, authorities hope to stabilise income for distribution companies while ensuring that users on the premium tariff band have accurate consumption records.
Eko Disco’s General Manager for Corporate Communications, Babatunde Lasaki, said the rollout reflects the company’s effort to align with the government’s directive and meet regulatory expectations. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission is monitoring the implementation to ensure that the meters reach the intended customers without additional charges or delays.
Officials also hope the scheme will speed up the transition away from post-paid systems, which have become increasingly difficult to manage amid rising complaints over estimated billing. The initiative is expected to ease pressure on the distribution network and help utilities improve planning for energy demand in some of the most complex parts of the grid.
